tray

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈtrā How to pronounce tray (audio)
Synonyms of traynext
: an open receptacle with a flat bottom and a low rim for holding, carrying, or exhibiting articles
trayful
ˈtrā-ˌfu̇l How to pronounce tray (audio)
noun

trayful

2 of 2

noun (2)

tray·​ful ˈtrāˌfu̇l How to pronounce trayful (audio)
plural -s
: as much as a tray will hold

Examples of tray in a Sentence

Noun (1) She carried the tray of food to our table. a car with several storage trays
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Small flies, like fruit flies, go for sugary, fermenting sources — think alcohol or fruit trays left sitting out. — Sharon Wu, USA Today, 4 July 2026 Dowding sows both leeks and celeriac under cover in module trays at the same time, around mid-March. — Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 30 June 2026 Per the outlet, Martin cleans tables and floors, restocks sauces and keeps trays moving to customers. — Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026 To keep things simple, make a tray of these fan-favorites with ham and cheese layered between Hawaiian rolls that everyone will love. — Patricia S York, Southern Living, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for tray

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English trīg, trēg; akin to Old Swedish trø wooden grain measure and probably to Old English trēow tree — more at tree entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tray was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing tray

Rhymes for tray

See All Rhymes for tray

Browse Nearby Words

trawlnet
tray
tray agriculture
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tray.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tray. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

tray

noun
ˈtrā How to pronounce tray (audio)
: an open container with flat bottom and low rim for holding, carrying, or exhibiting articles
trayful
-ˌfu̇l How to pronounce tray (audio)
noun

Medical Definition

tray

noun
ˈtrā How to pronounce tray (audio)
: an appliance consisting of a flanged body and a handle for use in holding plastic material against the gums or teeth in making negative impressions for dentures

More from Merriam-Webster on tray

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for tray

Nglish: Translation of tray for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tray

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